Improvement in low-water indicators



F. STEELE.

Low-Water Indicators.

Patented Dec.. 9,11873."

UNITED STATES PATENT CEEIOE.

` FERDINAND sTEELE, OE BROOKLYN, 'NEW YORK, AssIGNoR To AMERICAN STEAMAND WATER RECORDING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOW-WATER INDICATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,369, dated December9, 1873; application filed May 14, 1873.

' To all whom it may concern:

the lower end, in which the water remains, ex-

cept when the water in the boiler sinks below the end of suoli pipe,1and allows steam to enter and take the place of the water, and producean expansion and alarm. In most instances the expansion-rod has Openedthe valve to the alarm-whistle by an end wise thrust; hence such rod hasbeen of necessity of a large size, and not intluenced rapidly by changesof temperature.

The object of my invention is to apply tension to the expansion-rod, andto cause the pressure of the steam in the boiler to open the y'alve tothe whistle, thus relieving the expansion-rod from all duty, except thatof controlling, by tension, the opening and closing of the valve to thewhistle, that is nearly balanced vby the pressure of the steam on adiaphragm, thereby rendering the alarm more durable and reliable in itsoperation.

In the drawing my improvement is represented by a vertical section. .A

The plate a represents a portion of the boiler, and the pipe bis toextend to the water-line at the lowest level, and its upper end isconnected in any convenient manner with the .tube c, containing theexpansionrod d. This rod d is secured by a bridge, e, at the lower end,and at the upper end passes through the flexible diaphragm f, the edgesof which are confined by the ring or frame g. The lever 7L is upon afulcrum, I, and extends above the expansionrod d to tliestem of thevalve This valvei is in a pipe that connects on one side at m with theboiler, and at the other side a with the whistle or alarm o, and thereis an adjusting screw or plug, p, at the end of the lever h.

The size of the valve i, in comparison to the area of the diaphragm j',is suoli that the pressure of steam or water upon the diaphragm f,acting through the lever It, is sufficient to Open the valve 'i againstthe pressure of steam; hence the expansion-rod d will always be undertension, and its duty will only be to allow the pressure of iiuid in theboiler to move the diaphragm in opening the valve'i by the superior areaof pressure, or to contract by decrease of temperature suttieiently toallow the valve t' to close by the pressure of steam. be added to thevalve t' to aid in closing the same., A tube may bc substituted for therod d, the action being the same.

I claim as my invention- 1. The diaphragm j' and expansion rod or tubed, in combination with the tube c and alarm or whistle, substantially asset forth.

2. The diaphragm j', expansion rod 0r tube d, lever h, and anadjustment, p, in combination with the tube c and alarm ot a low-waterindicator, substantially as set forth.

3. The expansion-rod d and diaphragm j', in combination with the leverh, valve t', and alarm and steam and water tubes, substan tially asandfor the purposes set forth.

Signed by me this 8th day of May, A. D. 1873.

FERDINAND STEELE.

Titnesses GEO. T. PINOKNEY, CHAs. H. SMITH.

A spring may

